Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-07-07
AN INTERESTING gplFlcE.
Philadelphia Church Founded by the
Immortal Gustavus AdoiphuS

PhIlAdelphIa Church Founded By tn,
Immortal Gustsvus AdoiphuS
1t will surprise many. / think, q
learn that King Gustavus Adolphus Of
Sweden founded a church in America.
1t was just before be set out on the
fatal campaign which ended at Lutzen.
He chartered AN American trading
company and to its officers gave money
and books with which he charged them
to establish in their colony church
upon the Swedish faith. This they
did. and Gustavus' successor. King
Charles ri, subsequently sent over
books and a communion service. The
latter is preserved to this day. Christ
Church in this city has pulpit Bible,
which IL still uses, that was given it by
Queen Anne of England.
The Swedish Church was almost
identical with the Church of England
in form Of public worship, but in belief
1t was strictly Lutheran. 1t was the
middle of the Seventeenth century
before tho wishes Of Gustavus Adolphus
were carried out. The Swcdes were
then sole masters Of Pennsylvania.
William Penn came some twenty
years later, and determined the present
site OF Philadelphia site which the
Swcdcs were trying to establish in q
swamp. or course they failed, while
the shrewd Quaker succeeded. Phila.
delphia was, by the end Of the Seven.
teenth century, struggling village
along the Delaware river front. The
old church of the Swedes was becom.
ing delapidated. because it had been
poorly built. and n question arose over
the site Of new one. As has so often
been the case in later times, there
grew out of il bitter war of words.
Finally il was agreed 10 settle the
matter by lot. The names Of the two
most favored sites were put in hat.
The present site was drawn, and on il
to-day stands the famous old cdifice
which Is a cherished relic of Philadel.
phia, so dear in fact that the CITY
would as soon think of parting with its
charter as allowing any harm to come
to grand old Gloria Del.
For many years the Kings Of Sweden
were ACCUSTOMED 10 send over rectors
and to contribute money toward their
support. Four of these faithful re.
ligious pioneers are Inferred beneath |
the altar. A fifth lies in the yard. |
The structure is small and stands sew. |
eral rods from the street, the entrance |
being down a shaded path among the |
tombs, that reminds one forciby Of the
lime-coyered approach to Holy Trinity,
at Stratford-upon-Avon. There is q win.
dow above the altar that was sent over
from Sweden. There is no chancel,
but only a railing and rostrum that ex.
tend out into the body Of the room
The parish was formerly possessed of
twenty acres Of land now covered by
the city, but through the carelessness
Of some one ii lost the title TO il and
is now quite poor, where it might have
been one OF the wealthiest in the coun-
try. The Swedes took little part in
public affairs, and upon William Penn's
last visit to America they accused the
pious old Quaker Of stealing their land.
They did not make the accusation
stick, however. and were out Of theii
and just the same. An effort has
been making with some success for
.he past dozen years to endow tho
parish. The neighborhood in which it
stands has become about the lowest
N the city and the congregation is by
10 means self-supporting. The Swedes
Years ago lost their standing in num-
Der In this part Of the country, the
service was changed into English. aud
he church itself entered the Episcopal
A visit to it is like going
pack into two centuries of the past -
Cor. San Francisco ChroH.
cL,.